KYACHW 

Dr. White practiced as an OB/GYN physician in Frankfort, Kentucky, for over twenty years. She retired from clinical medicine in 2009 and first worked at the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) as the Director, Division of Women’s Health. After working with the UK College of Public Health at the University of Kentucky (UK) in 2011, she returned to KDPH as Deputy Commissioner of Clinical Affairs in 2012. She has served as the Principal Investigator for multiple grants that included chronic diseases, cancer screening, and substance use disorder (SUD), among others. She is currently involved in the state pandemic response, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services SUD efforts, and is Medical Advisory to the Kentucky Perinatal Quality Collaborative (KyPQC).

Dr. White is a graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College with a BS degree in Chemistry, has an MS in Toxicology from the University of Kentucky and, after working in bench research in birth defects, completed medical school training at UK with an OB/GYN residency at University of Louisville.

Trent works as a Disability & Health Program Facilitator with the Kentucky Inclusive Health Collaborative through the Human Development Institute. Trent is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and has work experience in behavioral health, Day Treatment, Intensive Outpatient Therapy, and providing direct support for adults with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. His research interests include relationships, generational trauma, trauma in marginalized populations, and accessibility to mental healthcare for individuals with disabilities.

With 28 years’ experience in affordable housing and community development, Wendy joined KHC in 2013, becoming Deputy Executive Director of Housing Programs in 2018.  

Wendy leads over 20 federal and state housing programs including affordable multifamily rental development, rent assistance for nearly 28,000 Kentucky households each month, homeownership opportunities, and housing solutions for Kentuckians experiencing homelessness. She oversees state programs such as the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Rural Housing Trust Fund. Wendy also oversees compliance and asset management for KHC’s multifamily portfolio.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Wendy led KHC’s deployment of over $350M in new, one-time relief funds from Treasury and HUD.

Her current work is focused on helping Kentucky recovery from major natural disasters and address the severe housing supply shortage faced by communities across the Commonwealth.

Prior to joining KHC, Wendy worked as a HUD technical assistance and training consultant, led a community development corporation in Dayton, OH, and worked as a community organizer in Cincinnati, OH.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Social Work from Miami University in Ohio and a master’s in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. 

For detailed credentials: Wendy K. Smith | LinkedIn

I am an ambitious Community Health Worker and Care Coordinator with Horizon Health in London, KY. Since 2023, Horizon Health has been active in our community as a CCBHC.

My role as a CHW allows me to empower our clients by assisting them with appropriate health education and being a mediator for them in our community and health service systems.

Trust and dignity are at the heart of my work and being allowed to advocate for my clients is one of my greatest blessings.

My accomplishments with Horizon include leading a team of Employment Specialists into the beginning of a successful Employment Service Department. Also, I am part of a newly founded Care Coordination Team that works one-on-one with our clients to ensure they receive the best care available. With encouragement from our leadership team, I am working towards a Biblical Counseling and Business Administration degree.

I am passionate when it comes to the services we provide here at Horizon and the belief that everyone has the right to be heard and treated with respect.

My interests include serving within my church, spending time with my family, and trying to become the best version of myself.

Since March 2024, I have become a dedicated and determined Community Health Worker. I am a part of the Care Coordination Team with Horizon Health in London, KY.  

My role as a CHW helps me facilitate communication between community members and care organizations. It helps me build a trusting relationship with the community and my clients.  

My main goal as a CHW is to advocate for my clients and ensure I can provide the best care needed for them. Another goal I have as a CHW is to build trust with my clients and ensure their privacy as well.  

My accomplishments with Horizon Health include being part of the Care Coordination Team, Employment Specialist, Adult Peer Support Specialist, and Community Health Worker. I have been blessed with the opportunity to further my education to obtain a degree in becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor.  

I am very enthusiastic when it comes to helping clients who come into our clinic her at Horizon Health because everyone deserves a chance to be treated kindly, fairly, and not to be judged.  

My interests include helping others, spending time with my loved ones, being an active member of my church, and continuing to succeed in growing and being better than I was the day before.

Steven J. Stack was appointed Commissioner for Public Health and Chief Medical Officer for the Commonwealth of Kentucky in February 2020, and was subsequently elected Secretary-Treasurer in fall 2020 and President in 2023 of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Dr. Stack is a board-certified emergency physician with more than 20 years of emergency medicine clinical practice and emergency department management experience. Throughout his career, Dr. Stack has served in numerous medical professional association leadership roles. In2006, he was the first board certified emergency physician ever elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees and in 2015 he served as AMA President.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Dr. Stack graduated magna cum laude in classical studies from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He completed his medical education and emergency medicine residency at the Ohio State University and his MBA at the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business.

Oumie Hawa Nyassi serves as Kentucky’s State Refugee Health Promotion Coordinator. She holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Michigan State University and graduated this summer with a Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Louisville. Oumie is from The Gambia, West Africa, where she also served as a Peace Corps health volunteer before the pandemic. She has deep ties to her home country and attributes her hard work, passion, and dedication to serving refugees and immigrants to where she comes from.

Oumie is an empathetic professional with extensive experience in trauma-informed care, refugee resettlement, community outreach, and violence prevention. She has worked with refugees, immigrants, and individuals from varied backgrounds, both domestically and abroad. Her leadership and passion are enriched by significant international travel experience across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Mexico. Known for her kindness, organizational skills, and ability to work well with and empower others, Oumie is dedicated to advocating for human rights and enhancing the health and well-being of refugee, immigrant, and minority communities.

Marnie Mountjoy began her career with the Commonwealth of Kentucky in May of 2000 with the Department for Community Based Services as a child protective service worker in the Division of Protection and Permanency in Jessamine County. In August 2005, she joined the Department of Aging and Independent Living and since that time, she has served in a variety of rolls including overseeing the administration of programing funded by the Older Americans Act and pursuing additional grant opportunities to expand and enhance the services offered by the department. Mrs. Mountjoy is currently appointed to the role of Director for the Division of Quality Living which oversees the administration and implementation of state and federally funded programs designed to assist elderly and physically disabled Kentuckians and their caregivers. 

Ms. Mountjoy is a 1997 graduate of Western Kentucky University where she earned a B.A. in both Psychology and Sociology and has pursued graduate studies in School Counseling at Middle Tennessee State University.

My name is Marianna Sova. I am a Certified Community Health Worker at Blount Rural Health Center in Elkton, Ky. I have served in this role for two years. I have been awarded the Helping Hand award two years in a row by my co-workers at Blount. We received the innovation award for the CARE SMBP program this year for our work with the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program. I am currently in school through Hopkinsville Community College to obtain my Social Work degree. I had the honor of speaking at the 2023 KYACHW conference on the day in the life of a community health worker panel. Last year, I also had the opportunity of speaking at our local Rotary meeting concerning the top five needs we see in our community. On a personal note, I have been married to my best friend for going on two years. I have one cat, Penelope. I am a Pre-K/Kindergarten Sunday School teacher. In my spare time I love to read, color, craft, and spend time with my family. I am truly a homebody at heart. My passion is my role as CHW and future Social Worker. Children also have my heart. I am a proud Auntie to several; the youngest niece is 9 months old.

Elizabeth (Liz) Edghill, BA, RN, BSN is the Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services at Family Health Centers, Inc. (FHC), a community health center in Louisville, Kentucky. She founded the Community Health Worker Program there and is the agency’s Title VI Compliance Officer. After receiving her BA in German Literature and Language from the University of Pennsylvania, Liz served for three years as a health education volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps in Guyana, South America. She later earned her BSN from Bellarmine University’s accelerated nursing program and worked at University of Louisville Hospital before transitioning to primary care and patient education. Liz provides direct health systems orientation to newly arrived refugees. She coordinates services at FHC-Americana, which is the pilot site for Refugee Health Assessments in Kentucky and houses the Survivors of Torture Services program. She strives to makes sure the everyone, particularly refugee and immigrant newcomers, feels welcome accessing care at FHC. 

Liz has been an active member of the national Association of Refugee Health Coordinators (ARHC) for over ten years, holding leadership roles on their Executive Board and Health Education Committee. Liz works to advance culturally and linguistically competent care, improved health literacy, and customer service. She helped form and co-facilitates FHC’s Healthy Ideas (HI!) Group, a patient and family advisory committee, as well as the Culture of Caring Committee, working to implement Trauma-Informed practices across the organization. Liz has had leadership roles with Health Literacy Kentucky (HLK), a statewide organization working to improve health communication and health systems navigation across the commonwealth, and she enjoys training new CHWs with and being on the board for AKHCAN. Liz feels honored to have received the MediStar Dickinson Wright Nurse of the Year Award (2017), the Refugee Health Hero Award (2023) and the Cherie Judd Spirit Award (2023).  

Kellie Kozee Warren is the Executive Director of the Appalachian Kentucky Health Care Access Network (AKHCAN).  AKHCAN has supported Community Health Worker (CHW) programming for over two decades and is approved by the Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers (KOCHW) to provide the foundational training required for CHW Certification.  Kellie has 30+ years in experience in human services, has extensive experience in curricular development and has delivered training and workshops throughout the state.

As a partner at Kentucky Elder Law, PLLC, KELLY GANNOTT appreciates the opportunity every day to help seniors and their family members navigate the maze that long-term care decisions can be. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorney, Elder Counsel and the Kentucky, Indiana and Louisville Bar Associations, as well as being accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is a past member of the Louisville Bar Association’s Public Service Committee and the Board of the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana. A summa cum laude graduate of Murray State University’s award-winning journalism school, Kelly was a newspaper editor and reporter before becoming a lawyer. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.

Josh Adams is the Rural Project Manager at the Center for Excellence in Rural Health. He has an Associate in Arts and is currently working on his Bachelor’s in Social Work. He worked with Kentucky Homeplace for 3 years as a Rural Outreach Coordinator. He has worked with community partners to coordinate many Appalachian Community Health Days across 32 counties in Kentucky and three counties in West Virginia. Josh supervises the Community Health Worker students who complete the Students Striving for Better Health in Self and Community program to ensure that they complete their shadowing hours to become Certified Community Health Workers.

Thrive Presentation

Thrive Presentation

Thrive Presentation

Ismara Lopez is originally from Cuba, and moved to Louisville in 2000. She graduated from Spalding University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She transitioned to her current role as a Certified Community Health Worker in June 2022. In this role, she serves as a bridge for the Latinx community and the United States healthcare systems, connecting an underserved population to much needed resources.  Last year, her work on the partnership with Family Health Centers and La Casita Center was honored by the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and she  has also received multiple La Casita Awards. Ismara is a proud wife and mother to three lovely children. 

I am Dustin Black, a dedicated Community Health Worker at KentuckyCare, where I am committed to addressing and reducing health disparities within our community. My role transcends the traditional 9-to-5; it is driven by a deep personal connection to the challenges faced by many of our patients.

Having grown up in an impoverished environment on a small farm, I understand the hardships of limited resources and the impact of socioeconomic challenges. My early life was marked by struggles with substance addiction and unsheltered homelessness. However, with the support of both recovery communities and professionals in the medical and behavioral health fields, I successfully rebuilt my life.

This transformative experience inspired me to pursue a career in social work. Over the past four years, I have served as an Adult Peer Support Specialist with Kentucky Care, and my journey in the field has been deeply fulfilling. As of November 1st, I will celebrate nine years of long-term recovery. I am honored to contribute to Kentucky Care’s mission of serving the least, the last, and the lost.

Dr. Bautista-Cervera was born in Mexico City, Mexico. She received her medical degree from the National Autonomous University (UNAM) School of Medicine in Mexico. She was trained as a Pediatrician and a Pediatric Allergist at the National Institute of Pediatrics (INP) in Mexico City. In 2018, Dr. Bautista-Cervera earned a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion from the University of Louisville.

In 2019 she started working with La Casita Center, a unique organization in Kentucky that enhances the well-being of Louisville’s Latinx community through education, empowerment, advocacy, and wellness. Her role as a Health Empowerment Coordinator includes health promotion and disease prevention activities and advocacy.

She played a major role in collaborating in the establishment and promotion of culturally informed vaccination clinics and campaigns for the Latinx and other migrant communities. She joined the LMPHW Board of Health in July 2022, serving as co-chair of the Immunizations Advocacy Committee. In this role, she worked to improve population health and health literacy within the Louisville community. Dr Bautista-Cervera was elected LMPHW Board of Health Vice Chair in July 2023, and Chair in July 2024. She was also commissioned as a member of the Health Disparity and Equity Technical Advisory Committee of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by Governor Beshear.

She has served as a Community Advisory Board Member of the University of Louisville Superfund Research Center’s Community Engagement Core since November of 2019. She also serves on the board of the People Against Trafficking Humans Coalition of Kentucky. She continues to advocate for immunizations and health equity, uplifting the Louisville community and promoting public health for all Kentuckians.

Dr. Robyn Napier is a Doctor of Behavioral Health and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in integrated behavioral health practice within rural primary care settings. For over a decade, she has been a dedicated behavioral health therapist at the University of Kentucky North Fork Valley Community Health Clinic in Hazard, KY. Additionally, Dr. Napier is a part-time professor at the Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies and has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work since 2011.

Passionate about providing mental health services to rural communities, Dr. Napier works with children, adolescents, and adults, promoting integrated care through collaboration with community partners and local physicians. Her clinical expertise includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Brief Therapy.

Dr. Napier’s research interests are broad and encompass various aspects of mental health. She has been actively involved in numerous research endeavors throughout her career. Her clinical interests include mood disorders, suicidality and prevention, chronic pain, substance abuse, integrated behavioral healthcare, ADHD, autism, trauma in children, adverse childhood events, social determinants of health (SDoH), social determinants of mental health (SDoMH), and co-related health and behavioral health conditions.

Since July of 2023, Destiny Pennerman has served as the Community Health Worker Manager at Park DuValle Community Health Center. Destiny has over 6 years of experience working in public health and within the community to help individuals and family with addressing various social needs and barriers. Destiny has worked alongside prominent members in the Louisville community to support families, advocate and implement change to address health and social inequities.  She is an experienced program manager and capacity-building professional with a B.A. Psychology as well as an M.S.B.C in organizational Leadership from Spalding University. Aside from serving as a leader for her CHW team, Destiny is also a certified community health worker herself.  She brings to the table a multi-faceted background in behavioral health and preventions. Her passion to be of service to the most underserved communities and overlooked groups of people are what brought her talents to Park DuValle Community Health Centers.

Darla Shepherd is a Certified Community Health Worker who has been serving Harlan County with Kentucky Homeplace for seven years. Her passion is filling the gap in her community for older adults by navigating and advocating for them to help them receive lifesaving medications, food, glasses, dentures, diabetic shoes, or any other services they may need. Darla says “I believe what makes a CHW a good CHW is to have the heart to serve the people, and serve them with integrity and passion!”

Chelsea Miceli, MSSW, serves as a Program Manager at the University of Louisville Trager Institute. She holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work and is a Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW). Chelsea is an active board member of Kentucky Voices for Health and has extensive experience working with diverse populations and organizations, including the Department of Community Based Services, school-aged children, and long-term care facilities, with a specialized focus on geriatric care.

As a field supervisor, Chelsea mentors social work learners statewide. She co-manages the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program and the Virtual Friendly Visitor Program. Leveraging her education and expertise, Chelsea has developed and instructs the Community Health Worker curriculum for Apprenticeship interns as part of the Trager Institute’s Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training paraprofessional grant.

Chris Smith is the Overdose Prevention Liaison at the Kentucky Department for Public Health, seconded to the Department by Vital Strategies. Working as an Emergency Medical Technician and a Registered Nurse in rural and urban Kentucky, he saw first-hand the limits of stigmatized approaches to the harms associated with substance use. This led to his career transition to public health and harm reduction. Working closely with people who use drugs in a Syringe Service Program, he learned to center lived and living experience in health promotion and to advocate for evidence-based interventions based on Harm Reduction principles. Chris is proud to be working with the KDPH Harm Reduction Program, sharing these strategies across the Commonwealth. In this role, he manages the statewide naloxone access portal FindNaloxoneNowKY.org, while working with government partners and community-based organizations to develop and coordinate Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution across the commonwealth.

Victoria Elridge is the Commissioner for the Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) under the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Kentucky and is also an occupational therapist. As a child, she was diagnosed with epilepsy which empowered her to go into the health services field. She has spent her career serving in state government or providing person-centered occupational therapy services to individuals across the lifespan. 

Two weeks into her appointment as Commissioner, Kentucky had its first case of COVID-19. Commissioner Elridge has led the state in ensuring no older Kentuckian goes hungry with an unpresented number of home-delivered and senior center meals served to older Kentuckians during the pandemic. Under her leadership, in December of 2020 DAIL created the “Shot of Hope at Home” program to ensure homebound Kentuckians receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In October of 2021, the first ever statewide Office of Dementia Services was established and in August of 2022 in conjunction with the Department for Medicaid Services, launched Kentucky’s first Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to ensure older adults have more options to receive in home care. Additionally, under Commissioner Elridge’s leadership more individuals with disabilities can self-direct their needs in their community. Commissioner Elridge co-chairs Kentucky’s Elder Abuse Committee and participates in the Long-Term Care Taskforce.   

Commissioner Elridge is a recipient of the Ky Department of Veterans Affairs Ambassador Award and is a Kentucky Colonel. 

Commissioner Elridge was born and raised in Louisville, Ky, and is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University where she holds a bachelor’s in occupational science and a master’s in occupational therapy. She lives in Georgetown, Ky with her husband, Colmon, their three sons, Colmon (IV), Carter and Camden and has a daughter, Shaela.

There are many words that can describe Pamela Pitts but the one that sticks out the most is Energetic. Pamela Yvonne Pitts born to Rev. James E. Carter and Tina Carter has always had a mind of her own, not following the trends of others, but instead setting her own from her hair-styles to her fancy shoes and clothes, to the way she speaks and captures an audience attention with her recognizable voice. Pamela Pitts has set a presence in front of crowds since the early ages of 4 as her father traveled the world with the late James Cleveland and had Pamela right by his side. 

Pamela graduated from the School for the Creative and Performing Arts majoring in vocal and instrumental music and went on to pursue a career in Cosmetology after high school which then led her to attend colleges to achieve her BA in Interpreting for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. Pamela has excelled in every aspect of her careers from being known as one of the top hair stylist in Cincinnati to Interpreting for former Presidents Bill Clinton & Barack Obama as well as his wife Michelle Obama.

Everything in life has a season as in 2007 Pamela’s second oldest daughter was diagnosed with Stage 4 Synovial Sarcoma Cancer (Eats your organs) and left her living with one kidney and a host of scars after many surgeries. Despite the joy of being Cancer free and living… Pamela’s daughter now suffered from low self-esteem, body image, and self-worth issues. It was during a long stint in the hospital that Pamela became burdened with the thought of how to help her daughter feel better about herself and was given the concept of the fact that although she had endured such a horrific ordeal the fact that she was alive and breathing meant that she could still achieve anything that she desired if she believed and L’BAE (Living Blessed and Empowered) was born!

Pamela founded L’BAE (Living Blessed and Empowered) Studio 1 llc. In 2013 with the famous slogan “L’BAE All Day” meaning that every day is a blessing and to live it as such! Pamela’s belief in God and His power became her mission to share with the world as she does so through her company in a variety of ways: Pamela who is also known as the ‘ Inspirationalist’ is the host of her own radio show “Life the L’BAE Way”, Author of the L’BAE Moments ( Inspirational Quotes aired daily) on WGRI 1050 AM & 103.1 FM & Classic Vibe Internet Radio. Pamela is an Inspirational Life-Style / Behavioral Strategist servicing individuals and groups with social & emotional development needs. Pamela is also the Facilitator for the L’BAE B-ASL (Basic American Sign language) classes, as well as the founder and lead facilitator of the L’BAE Boundless Conception Social Talks enrichment program for Adolescents and Adults that is utilized within the Cincinnati and Kentucky school districts. 

Pamela is also the creative designer for the L’BAE Life-Style brand Concept T-Shirts & Cosmetic line where she has been featured on Channel 5 Issues, Cincy Chic Magazine; Channel 9 featured stories, the World of Dresses Blog as a Contributing Beauty writer, and a host of other supporting organizations.

 L’BAE (Living Blessed and Empowered) Studio 1 LLC is a Life Style Brand, Holistic Consulting Company and Empowerment Source that embodies 3 core principles; Acceptance, Accountability & Aspiration to Inspire, Motivate and Promote for a Positive change in one’s mindset which is the goal of L’BAE. We Believe that Your Thoughts are Equivalent to Your Actions!  

Pamela has combined all her creative skills, talents & intellectual competence to create a Company that provides services to equip individuals to better understand their self-worth, why they were created and the belief that their purpose is worth attaining.

Pamela is a Doctoral Candidate at Walden University who plans to pursue her PhD Doctorate degree in the field of Industrial & Organizational Psychology- Consulting Psychology program. 

Pamela has also been inducted into the 2019 National Society of Leadership and Success and is now a proud member.

Morgan Turner is a Program Education Assistant at the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky. Mr. Turner is a strong self-advocate who has both cognitive and physical disabilities. He is an influential leader, expert peer educator, and the host of Morgan’s Musings, a video series dedicated to supporting individuals to become leaders and self-advocates in their own unique way. He works full-time across multiple HDI projects focused on health, advocacy, leadership, and inclusive higher education and employment for people with disabilities. Morgan has co-facilitated several inclusive health promotion programs and over 75 trainings on Universal Design in health and disability inclusion for professionals, self-advocates, and community members. He is a graduate of Tates Creek High School and an athlete and athlete ambassador with Special Olympics. Mr. Turner was invited to participate in the national Special Olympics Inclusive Health Work Group. In recognition of his hard work and leadership, Morgan was recently appointed to Kentucky’s Employment First Council by Governor Beshear.

Michael Nix is MSW and a Licensed Clinical Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Being an individual in long-term recovery with over 15 years active in a recovery fellowship, it has been lived experience that has directed Michael’s career.  Clinical training, education, and lived experience led Michael to becoming Director of what was then the largest Inpatient residential SUD intervention in eastern Kentucky.  During his tenure as Director Michael experienced the clinical aspect of SUD treatment along with the barriers and disparities those struggling with a SUD faced.  Personal experience and professional training has led Michael to becoming a strong advocate for the people directly affected by a substance use disorder and the families that have suffered along with them.  As the Behavioral Health Coordinator for the Kentucky River District Health Department Michael, continues to serve in a clinical role while advancing the standards of current SUD interventions and treatments.  

Denise Thomas, MED, MA

Denise Thomas serves as a Regional Cancer Control Specialist and Tobacco Treatment Specialist for the Kentucky Cancer Program—West, University of Louisville.  Prior to her current role she served as a psychotherapist who specializes in psycho-oncology, trauma, and sexual health. She is also a doctoral student in the University of Louisville School of Public Health and is specializing in Health Promotions and Behavioral Research. Her interests including advocating for cancer prevention, screening, access to healthcare, and health equity. She is also devoted to developing supportive interventions for cancer survivors. She is married and has identical twin sons, Corey and Aden, a cat, and a Beagle which keep her very busy. In her free time, she is an avid reader.

Cynthia holds degrees in Nursing, Human Nutrition and Family Sciences from the University of Kentucky. She has worked in field of maternal child health since 2016. Currently, Cynthia is employed with the University of Kentucky Department of OBGYN Maternal Fetal Medicine as the Community Program and Research Director. In this role, she was selected to be Operations Director of the new State Maternal Health Innovation Program award from HRSA that funds the Kentucky Maternal Morbidity and Mortality (KyMMM) Task Force. She has worked to enhance Kentucky’s capacity to develop and implement goals in critical areas to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality. One of the many products of her work, has been the establishment of the Perinatal Community Health Work Program, which she is currently serving as interim Director. She is also active in the Kentucky’s Perinatal Quality Collaborative (KyPQC). Her passion is to help pregnant/recently pregnant persons thrive through empowerment and education of systems supported by safe, quality, collaborative, and equitable communities.

Bethany has been employed with the University of Kentucky since 2018. As a graduate of Sullivan University’s Community Health Services Program with an Associate in Science, she is a senior in the bachelor of Public Health program at Midway University. Her certifications include community health worker, adult peer support specialist, and targeted case management. Bethany has had the opportunity to work on multiple community service grants that support pregnant and postpartum persons and serve on the KyPQC Steering Committee, PATHHome Trial Study Advisory Council, and the Kentucky Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Task Force. Throughout her career she has worked among community and behavioral health organizations focusing on prevention intervention and rehabilitation services. Bethany has had the opportunity to support others through providing hospital visits performing HIV/HCV testing and risk reduction counseling recovery planning with individuals including those experiencing incarceration outreach in various community settings one-on-one peer support sessions and treatment group facilitation cofacilitation. Through the Perinatal Community Health Worker Program, she coordinates efforts with healthcare providers to enhance the health and wellness of perinatal women and families.

Austin Nugent is a Disability Program Administrator at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute (HDI). She helps coordinate several statewide efforts focused on multi-systems change related to disability, access, and inclusion. She has a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in disability policy. In addition to her role at HDI, she serves on numerous state and national boards, including the National Disability Rights Network and Kentucky Protection and Advocacy. Austin is most concerned with building the capacity of health professionals to provide equitable care to disabled individuals, which includes understanding disability is a demographic.

Originally from Ashland Kentucky graduating from Paul G. Blazer High School. Attended Ashland Community and Technical College. After marriage to David McGuire they set their roots in Louisa Kentucky and has remained there and plan to retire on family farm. Married to husband David McGuire for 37 years. Blessed with Two daughters Heather Lynn Kazee (Husband Chris) Grandson William Alexander and Olivia Jordan Adams (Husband Tim) Granddaughter Harlyn Rue, Grandson Stetson Wayne and Special Grandson Legend Jenkins. 

Community Health Worker with Kentucky Homeplace/UK College of Medicine for 14 years, and has served as the Training Coordinator with UK CERH ELEVATE for the past 2 years. She was the First Certified Community Health Worker in the State of Kentucky. She is a Master Trainer with Self-Management Resource Center and maintains her certifications in CPR, Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid and other required trainings. 

Even before CHW work Angela served on varies committees and groups in her community and she remains active. Serving as Past President and President Elect for The Kentucky Association of Community Health Workers (KYACHW), NACHW, SE CHW, KOCHW advocate and serves on varies committees with them. Current Chair of BY LAWS Committee and actively serves on Membership, Nominating, Professional Development/Training, Social Media and IT, Conference Planning Committee and Sub Committees and Networking and Marketing Committee all with KYACHW. Past President of Lawrence Democrat Woman’s Club, Treasurer of Louisa Younger Woman’s Club, Hill Top Methodist Church Missions Organizer, serving on Pastor Parish and Pastor Relations Committee and Nominating Committee. Lawrence County Democrat Board Member, served as a Counsel Woman for the City of Louisa 2 years, Served on Lawrence County Elementary, Middle and High School Site Base Decision Making Committee for 13 continuing years total. Member of the HAT (Health Action Team), served on the Community Health Improvement Planning Committee and the Community Advisory Board Cancer Focus Group. Member of the Louise Chapter #121 Eastern Star, Member of the KY Farm Bureau Woman Club and most important, member of Louisa Hill Top Methodist Church. Volunteered with local festival Septemberfest being the Co-Chair for 10 years and served on the committee over 20 years, help organize local Baby Pageants, 5/10K Walk – Runs, the Annual Appalachian Bike Tour and Lawrence County Fair Board and Car Show Event Coordinator. Supports local community clubs, school events and other churches. Partnered with neighboring agencies for Monthly Diabetic Support Groups, chair Gentle Yoga classes, Health fairs and Diabetes Shoe Clinics. Served on many years on the UK Extension Office Consumber Science Committee. With all of these committees, counsels and groups they all are focused on the very same things, building up their communities with strength of knowledge for a better living as a whole. Covid-19 has changed a lot for every one of these groups and agencies, we as a whole have each experienced our first pandemic in our lifetime. With this being said, now is the greatest need for medical and public educations and for all of our communities to come together and help one another. 

Angela has been fortunate enough to have gone 6 years on Mission Trips to Guatemala “Land of Eternal Spring” to serve the poor and less fortunate. Building houses, bathrooms, stoves, hosting dental, vision, medical and veterinarian clinics, helped organized collection of over 1000 plus pair of shoes to give to the children and mothers in the village of Cerra Alto, volunteer at House of Hope Orphanage and spent time working with orphans at MiMi’s House Orphanage. My favorite Moto in life is, “You have not truly lived until you have helped someone that can never repay you back”. That is true giving and being a CHW is that, it’s not work it is passion. Angela also stated that she is very fortunate that she has had a job role in her work that lets her do the same for people in need here locally. 

Angela Zeek is a graduate of Morehead State University.  She received her BA degree in political science and paralegal studies.  Angela completed her paralegal internship with Legal Aid of the Bluegrass and accepted an offer of employment upon graduating.  For the past 27 years she has mainly focused her career on helping Kentucky’s elderly and disabled populations.  As the Health & Government Benefits Unit Manager at Legal Aid she manages SHIP program services for 35 rural and urban counties, the long-term care ombudsman program for 10 counties, and Legal Aid’s Benefit Enrollment Center.   Angela believes that success is measured by the way we touch the lives of others and the impact that we make on those in need.  One of Angela’s greatest professional accomplishments is composing a team of individuals who share that same belief and who work daily to improve the quality of life of Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens.